Trim button



April 29, 1969 F. N. REYNOLDS TRIM BUTTON Filed May 5, 1967 INVENTOR Frederic/(Reynolds BY /m %9 i ATTY- United States Patent M US. Cl. 24-113 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A covered trim button having a base member and a cap member which cooperate to secure a cover on the button. The base member includes an annular axially extending flange alongside the annular wall of the cap member. The edges of the annular wall are bent upwardly thereby pressing the cover material against the edge of the flange.

This invention relates to covered trim buttons particularly adaptable for use on interior paneling and upholstering for automobile bodies, or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved trim button construction that will effectively grip and retain a cover thereon against any stress or strain it might encounter during its useful life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rugged, yet simplified and economical trim butt-on construction of the covered variety.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trim button construction wherein the base member has a downturned, annular end edge which cooperates with the curled lower edge portion on the button cap member to firmly grip and hold between them a cover member for the trim button.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of my covered trim button shown partly in elevation and partly in cross section.

FIG. 2 is a fragmental, sectional view of a modified form of my covered trim button.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views each showing a modified form of base member for the trim buttons shown in FIGS. 1 or 2.

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral 6 is a base member generally dish-shaped in contour and having an annular flange 7 extending substantially axially of the trim button body. The dish-shaped contour of the base member is obtained by a straight, upwardly and outwardly flaring central wall portion 8 which is joined at its peripheral edge to the upper end of the flange 7 by an intermediate curved portion 9. The base member has a central hole 10 formed therein which cooperates with a rivet head 11 of a button mounting stud 12. It is to be noted that the annular flange 7 terminates in -a downwardly facing end edge 13 having the thickness of the stock from which the base member is made, which is generally about .015 of an inch.

The trim button has an inverted, cup-shaped shell member 14 provided with a top Wall 15 and an annular side wall 16 which terminates in a lower end portion 17 extending downwardly below the end edge 13 of the base member.

A cover 18 for the cap extends over the outer surface of the top wall 15 and downwardly over the outer surface of the cap side wall 16 and is folded at 19 around the end portion 17 of said side wall and then upwardly between the confronting surfaces of the said side wall 16 and the flange 7.

3,440,693 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 The end portion 17 of the cap side wall 16 is curled inwardly and upwardly as depicted in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the edge of the curled end portion 17 of the cap member and the end edge 13 of the base member elfectively gripping the folded portion 19 of the cover to hold the cover securely in place against stresses and strains tending to pull the cover from my trim but-ton construction.

With reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings there is shown a modified trim button construction wherein the annular side wall 16 of the cap member 14 and the annular peripheral flange 7 of the base member 6 are inclined downwardly and inwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the trim button body.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there are shown modified forms of the base member 6 and in FIG. 3 'a base member 19 has an inner cylindrical portion 20 extending generally axially and an intermediate flat portion 21 projecting generally radially, the said intermediate portion being joined to the inner portion 20 by a curved portion 22, and to the annular peripheral flange 7 by a curved portion 23. In this form of base member the intermediate flat portion 21 follows the inner contour of the shell member 14 and acts to prevent deformation of the shell top wall 15 during manufacture and assembly.

With respect to FIG. 4 of the drawings a base member 24 has an upwardly and outwardly curved, semispherical central portion 25 formed on a radius and a downwardly curved intermediate portion 26 which joins the outer end of the central portion 25 to the upper end of the annular peripheral flange 7 of said base member. The semi-spherical portion 25 of this form of base member provides added strength and simplicity of manufacture in the production of the trim button shown in FIGS. 1 or 2 of the drawings.

It will therefore be understood that I have provided a novel and simplified trim button construction which effectively and positively grips and holds a cover thereon by the expedient of pinching and gripping an intermediate, folded cover portion between the downwardly faced end edge on an annular peripheral flange of the base member and an edge of the inwardly and upwardly curled end portion on a side wall of the cap member, said end portion on the side wall being permanently turned inwardly without deformation or wrinkling to secure a strong and effective attaching means for the cover of the trim button.

What is claimed is:

1. A trim button comprising a base having an annular peripheral flange extending generally axially of the butt-on body and terminating in a downwardly facing end edge, an inverted, cup-shaped shell having a top wall and an annular side wall terminating in an annular end portion extending downwardly below the end edge of the base, a cover for the cap extending over the outer surface of the top wall and the outer surface of the side wall and folded around the end portion of the shell side wall and upwardly between the confronting faces of the side wall and the flange, said end portion of the shell side wall being permanently curled inwardly and upwardly to pinch and grip the folded cover portion between said terminal end edge of the annular peripheral flange of the base and the annular edge of the curled end portion of the shell.

2. A trim button set forth in claim 1 wherein the cover gripping force between the terminal end edge of the annular peripheral flange of the base and the annular edge of the curled end portion of the shell is directed substantially axially of the trim button 'body.

(References on following page) 3 References Cited Germany. Germany. Great Britain. Great Britain. Netherlands.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

